Abstract
The reasons why rice 137Cs concentrations increase near the water inlet were investigated using rectangular experimental plots settled in paddy fields. The 137Cs concentrations in brown rice and rice straw were highest at 1 m from the inlet and decreased gradually with increasing distance, showing a negative correlation with soil exchangeable potassium content (Ex-K). The 137Cs concentration in brown rice was negatively and positively correlated with yield and sterility rate, respectively. These results suggest that soil Ex-K reduction and rice anomalies occurred near the water inlet and could contribute to the local elevation of 137Cs concentrations in rice.
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Acknowledgements
We especially thank the local farmers for managing the rice fields during the experiment. This research was financially supported in part by the Minamisoma City Government, the Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Environmental Fund, Japan, and the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Nos. 26511007 and 19H03072) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
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Suzuki, Y., Shoji, R., Tsurumaki, T. et al. Elevated rice 137Cs concentrations near the water inlet in paddy fields after the Fukushima nuclear accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 3167–3173 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08350-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08350-w